Study Of The Sacrificial Ceremony Of Zengzi In Jiaxiang Shandong Province From The Perspective Of Anthropology

This paper focuses on the revival of the sacrificial ceremony of Confucian ancestor Zeng Zi in Jiaxiang County,Shandong Province,using anthropological functional theory and social practice theory to conduct ethnographic writing.The study examines how members of the Zeng family participate in the revitalization of rural culture and engage in identity production.It also explores the contemporary values brought about by the revival of ritual.The paper first introduces the research background,topic selection basis,and investigation methods.It then reviews relevant literature to better understand and analyze the Zengzi sacrificial ceremony.In order to analyze the historical and cultural background of the ceremony,the paper describes the geographical environment and historical context of Jiaxiang County,the research site,and elaborates on the migration history of the Zeng family and the historical and cultural connotations of the region.The paper focuses on the recent Zengzi sacrificial ceremony,including the preparation,process,renovation of the Zeng temple,reconstruction of the family genealogy,and the retelling of the ceremony.Members of the contemporary Zengzi sacrificial ceremony come together due to their shared roots and local leadership in Jiaxiang County.The government of Jiaxiang County has also collaborated with the Zeng family to establish the Zengzi Research Institute,the Zeng Family Clan Association,and other organizations.By rebuilding the worship space and integrating the ancestor ritual with the renovation of the family genealogy,the scale and significance of the ritual have been expanded.As a result,the ritual has become an important carrier of Zengzi culture and has achieved its social function through constant retelling.The ritual has also facilitated interaction and connection among different actors,such as village communities,clan associations,academic organizations,and local governments.The revival of the ceremony is the result of the dual needs of both folk and official factors.It serves to worship and identify with the common ancestor,integrate the region,and link clan relationships.Ultimately,the internal force of the Zeng family led by elites facilitated the redistribution of social and cultural capital for the entire Zeng family.Meanwhile,the external force of the state’s power and economic interests drove the revival of the ritual.Despite the changes over the centuries,the ritual has always been carried out by members of the Zeng family.By participating in the ceremony,the Zeng family achieves the goals of "paying respects to ancestors" and "gathering clan members." As an important part of traditional village culture,the Zengzi sacrificial ceremony also connects villagers of different surnames and strengthens their sense of belonging and identity.Furthermore,the revival of the ceremony reflects the process of cultural symbol creation under national identity,which has prompted more members of the Zeng family to participate in the implementation of rural revitalization strategies,promoting the initiative and creativity of grassroots people.In a specific social and cultural context,the combination of excellent traditional culture and rural development has promoted rural cultural revitalization.